Goals from Tom Bradshaw and Sam Mantom have secured a 2-0 win for Walsall over Southend United at Roots Hall to keep the Saddlers' unbeaten start to the season in all competitions intact.
The home side had the first opportunity of the game when Joe Pigott's shot was parried away by Neil Etheridge and David Mooney failed to convert the rebound from six yards.
However, it was Walsall who opened the scoring with their first attempt of the match as Bradshaw, the hat-trick hero against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup on Tuesday night, spun his marker to fire home from 10 yards.
The dominant away side could have doubled their lead on the half-hour mark but Mantom's side-footed effort from Romaine Sawyers's cut-back was straight at Daniel Bentley.
Three minutes after the interval they did find a second goal as Mantom finished coolly from the edge of the box after Andy Taylor's cross was deflected into his path.
Walsall should have made it three when Sawyers delayed shooting and allowed Ryan Leonard to block, before Anthony Wordsworth had a goal disallowed for offside as the home side pressed for a route back into the match.
Dean Smith's side had chances to increase the scoreline when Bentley saved again from Mantom and Bolger cleared a James Baxendale effort off the line, but Walsall ultimately had to settle for a two-goal margin.
Tom Nightingale
